Wednesday, December 9, 2009

test

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

BASP Finale

race report on this past weekends BASP series finale

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Rumble in the Park

Updated race report, be sure to check out the video link at the bottom

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Night Race

http://www.murrayrenaissancecx.com/

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Hardware scored at BikeMonkey Cross

Last weekends race report http://www.murrayrenaissancecx.com/

Monday, October 26, 2009

Coyote Point CX

Latest race report here

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Lion of Fairfax

New report up.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Surf City Returns

new race report is up on http://www.murrayrenaissancecx.com/

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Murray/Renaissance CX Team Season Opener



Today was my new Cyclocross team's season opener and launch party.

My race preparation went well as I somehow managed to get the team tent, grill, coolers, etc and myself setup with plenty of time to warm-up. Big thanks to Mira. It is awesome having personal support and I get better results when I have it. I wasn't getting called up so I made a point to get to the staging area early and managed to get a front row start. The first two laps went well, as I avoided an early crash and was able to stay in touch with the lead train in about 12th or so. Lap 3 got a little dicey as I got hung up behind a few 35+ riders and lost contact with the lead train. Lap 4 stung ! as the heavy parcours; sand, wet grass, brutal run ups started to take their toll. On this lap I bounced my chain off the cog on the minefield descent and lost some time getting it back on. I continued to fade on lap 5-6 and lost a few riders right near the end ouch !

I'm not disappointed with my 17th (out of 34) as I've never cracked the top 20 on this brutal course. Plus a few more of the faster "old" guys have switched up from the 35+ to make the fields deeper than ever this season. I've got good fitness which I hope to build on for a competitive season culminating in Nationals in Bend, Oregon in December.

Finally I've picked up a sponsorship for this season and have been able to bring two of my friends and teammates to create the new Murray/Renaissance Cyclocross Team. I'll be publishing my reports on the team site and dropping links here and on twitter, http://twitter.com/markmastoras

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Steamboat Springs Training

Spending time in Steamboat Springs this week visting my parents with Mira and of course training.

Day 1

Easy out and back along river road, still recovering from the Tahoe Solstice weekend.





Day 2

Riding with the family on the Yampa River Core trail. Mira and I sporting the tandem cruiser.





Day 2 evening

Racing the Steamboat Springs town challenge MTB hill climb. 2000' feet in 4.5 miles staring at 7000' and ending at 9000'. About 1/2 up I faded off the back of my group, 40+ local MTB experts, finishing a good 6 minutes off the wining pace to finish 12 out of 16th. My time was 49.26. Tough effort !, but rewarded with 2000' of single track downhill.





Day 3

Around emerald mtn loop, 2 hours of steady state.

Solstice Weekend in Tahoe

My good friend and very fast MTB racer Sharon Hill organized a Tahoe camping/riding trip over Solstice weekend.

Day 1

After a slow morning with a few unexpected hassles we got underway and met up with Tahoe local Mario, who had two rides and a shuttle service set up for us. Ride #1 was a shuttle ride up to a point above Diamond Peak Ski Area, and a wicked fast and smooth 30 minute downhill. Ride #2 was a shuttle ride up to Rose Meadows and a ride out along the Tahoe Rim trail and down tunnel trail to lakeside.

Day 2 (Solstice)

For day 2 our group split up with the Storm Trooper downhillers, Sharon and Jim heading to North Star for a day for lifts and rips, while the Jedi cross country riders guided by Monica set out on 5 hour epic ride. Starting at Squaw Valley the Jedi's crossed 89 and rode up Western States trail to the top of Watson peak, for a 40 minute winding and smooth single-track downhill back to 89.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Maker Faire

Yesterday Mira and I attending the Maker Faire.








Monday, May 25, 2009

Mt Hamilton Road Race (long post for a long race)

Yesterday I raced the Mt Hamilton road race. It is the probably the toughest race on the norcal road racing calender at 60 miles and over 7000' of climbing. The race starts with about 1 hour of climbing which crests at the top of Mt. Hamilton. Following that the race starts to get hard !; with 40 miles of technical descents, short punchy climbs, rollers, canyon induced headwinds, finishing with a fast long descent and a short uphill sprint.

My goal was to stay with the lead group up the climb to the top and hang in for the rest. For several days leading up to the race I was suffering back and neck tightness so coming into the morning I was a little concerned about finishing.

Fortunately the pace started out relatively easy and I was able to warm up the back before the pace picked up. One rider went off the front early but there was no immediate reaction, big difference here between the 35+ field and last years 4s where all the early attacks brought immediate reactions. The field was large at 100 registered riders so during the first climb I focused on working my way up in the pack and was 4th wheel as we descended to the base of big climb.

Knowing the climb better was a big help this year and although I wasn't able to with the lead group all the way up I made it much farther and counted 15 riders in the group when I eased off and let them go. I found a good rhythm and worked on reeling in some riders. It wasn't long before I caught a Wells Fargo rider, I urged him to join and keep up, we passed a rider in our field with a flat, then caught a WebCor rider. Now our group was 3 near the top we caught a Davis rider, to make 4. A good size to work togther for the next 40 odd miles.

I led down the descent and soon had a gap. A few turns later a rider calmly called for room and the two lead e4s (they started 10 mins after us). Not long after a not so calm rider called for room passed me and on the very next corner slid out right in front of me. I was able to avoid him and slowed down to let several more e4s including the Davis rider from my field pass me. He promptly slids out in front of me, again I avoid crashing, but am a little rattled so I'm constantly checking behind me to see what other numnut is going to over cook it trying to get by me ! Big sigh of relief and I'm at the bottom and in a group of 4; Davis recovered from the crash, Webcor, and PenVelo.

We get in a pace line and start working together. Davis seemed a little out of it from his crash and before long has a mechanical and we are down to three. We are working well together I'm feeling good and pushing it a bit on the climbs. At about 20 miles to go we come across another PenVelo rider and he joins up. I'm a little nervous about getting caught and not really thinking about the lead group so I push the pace up the last series of climbs get a gap but ease off near the top so we can work together on the descent.

The headwind gets fierce through the canyon and I'm really happy for the help, we are all continuing to take solid turns but I'm starting to feel tired. I don't remember the race being this long !, the long descent is full into a stiff wind so its not much of a descent. Finally we clear out of the canyon and see a group up the road, we work together and what do you know but its a group of 6 riders from our field.

They looked pretty ragged and fearing more crashing I go to the front and pick up the pace. Right at this point I start to cramp but swallow hard, yell a bit and manage to hold it together. PenVelo comes up along with a Roaring Mouse rider. PenVelo attacks but I make no move to chase, finally Roaring Mouse goes to chase and I follow his wheel. Once we catch him his teammate attacks, this time I jump on him. At this point we've gapped off a few riders and roll down to the flat in a group of 6. At 1k to go I ease off to the back, figuring either of the two PenVelo or maybe Roaring Mouse to be the strongest. Wait, wait, wait... at 250k to go I jump and yell for room as I go around. At this point I'm all out and cramping to boot. I see Roaring Mouse come up but fade, than a PennVelo comes up, my legs start to give and he nips me.

Later I find out that our we were sprinting for 9th and 10th. A 10th place finish is a great result in this race so I'm pleased particularly since I earned it with a sprint finish.

Mira's Middle School Open House

Last week was Mira's middle school open house. She gave her dad a tour of each of her classes, including her locker and introduced him to each of her favorite teachers, expect for her science teacher who apparently is not her on her "fav" list.

Click on the photos for a closer view.

Mira's Locker




Herme's Project









Literature




Mira's Future Life


Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wente Road Race

This past Saturday was the Wente Road Race. Considering my recent road racing disappointments my goals were modest; make the selection !

This course is not really suited for pure climbers but there is a generous amount of power climbing on each lap. The race started out hard with a sprint up the first climb to the start/finish as there were prices for the top 3 on the first go around. It really hurt to stay up near the leaders. Going into the next climb there was 10 of us away but as it was straight into a moderate headwind, there was no attempt to stay away and the race came back together. This scenario replayed on every climb for the next two laps, where 10-15 riders would go hard and get away only to stall in the headwinds and be brought back. Boring but predictable. I made sure to stay tucked in always and got in the lead group on the climbs.

I thought on the last lap (3rd) things might get interesting on the climbs but it was more of the same. The Cat 3s caught and passed us near the top and as the group came back together on the flats I figured it was going to be a group sprint up the last hill. Than something actually happened, going up the short riser on the way back to the start/finish we caught back up and started to pass the 3s ? In the confusion a group of 4 riders got away, damn ! At least 3 of the riders I had been marking during the race were in that group, damn ! damn ! I got up near the front and riders were looking at each other so I hit the gas to bridge. Nobody got on my wheel, good !, but it took a long time and a lot of effort to make it, but make it I did, great ! Well as soon as I got there my presence seemed to cause the group to shutdown, huh !

I think looking back on it if I had gone right to the front of the lead group and started pulling, maybe they would have continued to work together. No such luck so back together we go, than another attack goes with a Z-team rider and some really big Oakland ? rider. This stays away for a bit, and at this point I'm near the front taking some turns looking for another bridging opportunity, yeah I didn't like my chances in the uphill sprint :-) Nothing comes of this I'm burning some matches.

Just before the final climb the group catches the two leaders and we all go hard. I blow up about 1/2 up and roll in somewhere in the top 20. Overall a good race and one where I felt stronger as the race progressed.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Racing on the Bay

Yesterday I traded my road racing cleats for the old sailing boots in the closet. The wind was unusually light but the course was picturesque as we started near the north tower of the Golden Gate bridge. The first mark was directly across the channel, we never made it as the breeze failed to fill in and we were forced to abandon the race. Not the most exciting afternoon on the water but good to get out nonetheless.

The weather was too good to pass up so later in the early evening I got out for a stunning training ride in the headlands.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Big Wheel Races on Easter

On Easter Sunday Mira and I went to check out the annual "Big Wheel Race" down San Francisco's Vermont Street, the official and little know windiest street in the city.

Pictures tell more than I can described. Although it was tough for us to see, Mira thought it was pretty cool.





Copperopolis

Lots of riders seem to live in fear of this race. I love it although I'm perennially disappointed in my result. This year would be no different.

Either as result of the "Lance" factor or a slow economy, maybe both, but the masters fields were twice as big as last year and most of the riders look super fit and ready to rumble. The race started much faster this year and I got gapped near the top of the first climb. I was able to chase back with a small group to rejoin the lead group or what I thought was the lead group. No one seemed to know how many riders were up the road or at least weren't saying ? It was hard to see as we were catching a large
group of 3s who were on their last lap.

Again on the 2nd lap I got gapped on the climb, this time there was no catching back on. I rode alone for a while until a group of 3 came up from behind. We worked
together around the last lap, i was able to get away from this group on the descent and rolled across for a mid-pack finish. I felt good at times but didn't have the top end to stay in it when it counted.

I need to put in more work to get competitive with the top guys but I feel like I'm making progress.

Here's a picture of Levi who raced in the pro field.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Napa Valley Dirt Classic

Yesterday was my first mountain bike race in the expert class at the always fun Napa Valley Dirt Classic course. I had won this race in my sport class last year so I was looking forward to a good showing. I figured this time the pace would start out hotter, so my goal was to try to hang with the lead group and just survive.

The pace was fierce from the start and I was seventh wheel into the short single track section that comes 200 meters from the uphill start. The rider in front let a gap go and that was it for the lead group. After the short but brutal run-up we came into the long flat dirt sections into a fairly strong head wind. Luckily at this point I was in a group of 3 so I was able to keep out of the wind and get some drafting in. Staying with this group (first chase group) kept me close to my limit, at after the whoop de dos this group split. Fortunately the rider with kept a good pace up through the entire Manzanita single track section.

I kept up a good pace, remembering to eat and drink, all was good until we started the brutal back-end climbs. At this point the race came back together some as I was now in a group of 4 in my class. Unfortunately I didn't have the climbing legs at this point and I wasn't able to keep pace. I throw it all in after the climbs for a 5 minute time trial which really hurt !, to roll across 10th. I'm happy with my finish, but I feel like I'm a little behind in my training from last year.

It was a fun day as I was joined by teammates Anthony (who won his class !) and Antonio, along with fellow powder hound Todd. Thanks for an awesome days guys !

This should help with next weeks Nor Cal Classics Road race. Copperopolis !

Monday, March 30, 2009

Racing in Brisbane

My road season started off this past weekend in Brisbane, CA. One of the many reasons I enjoy this race it is a 10 minute drive from my apartment.

Saturday - Criterium

I'm never properly trained for this aggressive criterium but it is great training. I wasn't aggressive enough today and spent too much time near the back. About 1/2 through the race I got caught behind a crash, spent an entire lap chasing back onto the group, only to get caught behind another crash ! After that I was too spent to get back and dropped out.

Sunday - Circuit Race

This was the first road race i ever did, what 4 years ago, yikes! Its got a nice long steady climb in every lap that overtime puts the hurt on. I spent the first 1/2 of the race safely tucked in the group, but never falling farther back then the top half. At 5 to go I started moving up and started take some short turns at the front as the group made a half-hearted attempt to bring back a rider that had been up the road for most of the race. None of the teams with representation were making much of an effort. On the descent with 4 laps to go and again with 2 to go I made an effort to go off the front to see if anyone would join. Nobody did so I didn't follow these through with an attack up the hill. After this last attempt as I let riders pulled through I stupidly mis-shifted my chain right off the ring ! One again that was it for me, although at least I finished this one.

Although I didn't get a chance for a result in either race, i was racing well on Sunday and the legs felt good. Hoping that this bodes well for my chances in my upcoming races.

Here's a video from one of the other races on Saturday. Not my class but this gives you the general idea.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Cross Season Close Out

This past weekend I closed out my cyclocross season with a double shot of racing.

Saturday





The Sacramento series final was held on Saturday on a cold and blustery day at Sutters Landing an area of some historical significance. One half of the course was a straight section of gravel while the other half was fun single track with some sharp run-ups.

All the As started together which made for some mayhem on the first lap in the single-track section. It was a slow first lap as I waited for some open sections of course to move up. By lap 2 I was in the clear and moved up steadily along with a Davis rider. With 3 laps to go Davis and I had latched onto a group of 4, however at the start of the single-track section I bobbled and a gap formed. By the next lap the group had split at it was all I go do to hang onto the rider right in front. I rolled in to finish 8th in the combined group of 30, 3rd in my class (35+). Not a particularly inspirational race but fun nonetheless and a good result.

Sunday





Sunday brought my first race of the season in the Santa Cruz area at the always exciting Santa Cruz fairgrounds. The conditions and race course did not disappoint as the recent rains made for a challenging and fun course. I got off to an excellent and fast start in a good size and very deep 45+ A field. Unfortunately a series of bobbles on lap 1 set me back into the field.



However I was going very well and I steadily work my way back up. With 3 laps to go I had caught up to a group of 2 that had been setting pace together for most the race, unfortunately a 35+ rider missed the steep ride up just ahead of me and cost me the chance to bridge on that lap. With 2 to go I again caught up to the 2 riders just before the steep ride up but again just as we caught a 35+ rider. It was Deja Vu as again that rider bobbled ahead of me costing me the chance to catch them for good ! Surely I should have seen that coming and backed off a bit.



I stormed across the line to finish 9th out of 24 for one of my better efforts of the season. Great to finish it on a high note.